Wary vs. Weary: Cautious or Tired?

The Distinction

• Wary = cautious, watchful, on guard
• Weary = tired, exhausted, or fatigued

Using Wary

“Wary” means being careful or suspicious:

• “Be wary of strangers offering deals.” ✓
• “She was wary of making promises.” ✓
• “Investors remain wary of the market.” ✓
• “The cat approached the dog with a wary eye.” ✓

Related word: “beware” (be wary)

Using Weary

“Weary” means tired or worn out:

• “After the long hike, they were weary.” ✓
• “His weary eyes showed lack of sleep.” ✓
• “She grew weary of the constant complaints.” ✓
• “The weary travelers finally reached home.” ✓

“Weary” can also mean “tired of” (fed up):

• “I’m weary of these arguments.” ✓

Memory Trick

• Wary = think “aware” (being watchful, cautious)
• Weary = think “wear out” (exhausted from wear)

Common Confusion

• “I’m wary of this argument.” (cautious, suspicious)
• “I’m weary of this argument.” (tired of it, fed up)

Both sentences are correct but mean different things!

Quick Test

Feeling suspicious or cautious? → wary Feeling tired or exhausted? → weary